Foot corrective sandal



estense .lfuiy ie. ieee f uit ras are RAYMOND R. BLE ND 3Q E. PFLLER, OF IlYIILFORD, OEI@ FOOT CORRECTIVE SANDL Application led September 22, 1931. Serial No. 564,368.

This invention relates to a foot corrective sandal adapted especially for the purpose of straightening toes' and correcting other associated foot troubles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which may be Worn within the home'and at night for correcting pedal malformations.

Another object is to provide such corrective 1o sandal which holds deformed toes in a normal position during the whole period in which the sandals are Worn.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind which is adjustable for use with various kinds of malformations and which may be adapted for use by various people.

Another object is to provide corrective sandals of the class described which are simple in manufacture and readily adjusted to the feet of the wearer. These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

. Fig. l is a perspective view of the sandal with various foot corrective means of the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a perspective view of a modified form of the sandal.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is an isometric view in longitudinal cross-section, of another modified form of the sandal.

The device ofthe present invention comends are then tightened and returned over' the toes of a positioned foot and secured thus 5 for maintaining `misformed toes in proper broughtrmly together,

normal position during the period in which` the sandal is worn. It will be understood that after often repeated periods of use the toes resume their proper normal shape. ln connection with the foot sandal thus briefly described, other foot-corrective means `will be set forth in the specication that follows. With reference to the drawing: "lf he sandal as shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upper and a lower rigidsole member 1 and 2 respectively, which may be formed of Wood platescon- Vforming generally to the shape of a sole of a human foot, and joined together suchas byV glue or the like. The bottom member 2'is preferably formed to provide a heel portion 3, and :1' sole portion 4, the latter being suitably beveled as at 5 to permit a natural rise of the footduring walking. Before joining of the members 1 and *2, the latter may be covered with leather 6 which has its edges turned in between the joined sole members. Like- Wise, before joining of the sole members, six strap guides 7 are inserted through the upper member 1 adjacent the front thereof, the strap guides being in the form of wire loops, the inner ends 8 of which may be bent inwardly of shallow depressions 9 provided in the under face of top member 6. `Stra guides 7 are so positioned and spaced that each pair thereof will substantially embracel one of the toes of a normally formed human foot placed upon the sole member. F or this purpose, the strap guides are disposedlongitudinally ofthe sole member 1 and such that each is in substantial longitudinal alignment with an'imaginary point at the middle of the rear edge of the sole member l. A.' strap 10 is passed loosely through the strapV guides 7 to form toe-receiving loops 11 adapted each to embrace tightly one of the toes of the foot. `The ends of strap 10, after the toes have been inserted through the loops 11, are returned over the tops 'of the toes, and secured together such as-by a buckle 12. The toes Aare thus held in proper positionby two forces, namely, the individual loops 11 and the joined end portions of the strap 10. e

The heel portionv of the foot is held in place by a counter 13 which may be secured by the insertion of its lower edge 14 between the joined sole members 1 and 2. An ankle strap 15 and a cooperating buckle v16 may be provided upon the upper edges of the counter- 13. The same kind of covering material may be applied to the counter as has been utilized upon the sole members.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the constructionof the sandal ma be modified by forming the sole member o a single piece 17 having its upper and lower faces formed substantially the saine as the like surfaces respectively, of tliesole members 1 and 2 heretofore described. In this instance, the strapguides 7 may have their lower ends 18 terminating in and bent inwardly of depressions 19 provided in the bottom of the sole member 17. The depressions 19, subsequent to positioning ofthe strap guides 7, may be filled with wood composition 20 or the like. A preferable method of positioning the counter 13, is toA provide a continuous slot 21 around the edge of the heel portion of the member 17, said slot being adapted to receive the turned in bottom edge of the counter.- The latter may then be secured in place by meanscof nails or brads 22 projecting downwardly through the sole member. I A further modification is set forth in Fig. 5. Herein, a sole member 23 similar to the solev member 17, isfprovided. The top face of member 2.3 is covered by a' rigid metal plate 24, conforming to the shape of said face. In

' place of the wire strap guides heretofore covered with enamel or other suitable coverdescribed, integral strap guides 25 struck 'upwardly from the plate 24, are provided. At the rear, the-plate 24 may be cut with a small offset as at 26 to neatly accommodate the counter 13, the lower edge of which is turned in under the plate 24 and secured thereunder by means of nails 26 which likewise serve to lsecure metal plate 24 in position. Before positioning of .the metal plate, the latter may be suitably covered such as with leather or like material 27. At this .point it may be remarked that, in all the modificationV herein described, the sole members may be ing material in place of the leather.

' n addition to the toe straightening means above described, the present invention provides for other cooperating means. In Fig. 1

'the sandal is shown asprovided with a strap 28 secured between the upper and lower sole members 1 and 2 and provided intermediate its ends with an apertured bunion-embracing .pad 29. A- cooperating strap and buckle 30 and 31 respectively are rovided u nthe opposite side of the sanda. When t is bunion corrective'means is utilized the cooperation with the loop 110 .which receives the at toe of the foot, is especially beneficial.

t is common in abnormalconditions of the foot, kfor the grleat toe to assume an overlapping relations 'p with the toe adjacent therethis joint inwardly, vso that between the toe loop and the bunion strap, the great toe is urged toward a normal straight position, it

being understood that the adjustments can be periodically made tighter as the malformation is gradually overcome. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ends of the bunion straps 28 and 31 may be inserted into slots provided for this purpose in the edge of the sole meinber 17, said ends being subsequently fixed in place by nails 32. In Fig. 5 the ends of said bunion straps are inserted and secured beneath the plate 24, slots 33 being'provided at the edge of the plate 24 for neatly accommodating. said straps.

In the various figures are shown forms of arch and metatarsal supports. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4't-he metatarsal support 34 and the arch support 35 are shown as preferably rethat the metatarsal support is provided with a curved upper face while the metatarsal support 35 is provided with. a rising curvilinear y surface 36 terminating at its highest edge 37 which is disposed flush with the edge of the sole member upon the arch side of the'sandal.

-In Fig. 5 the arch and metatarsal supports,

instead of being provided by separate members, are formed integral with the rigid plate 24.' In this instance the plate, before positioning thereof, isstamped upwardly at the ldesired places to provide the ,metatarsal support 37 and the arch support 38. However, 1n place Aof the upwardly formed plate thus described, the resilient support pads above set forth, may be utilized by gluing them upon the upper surface of the plate 24.

The metatarsal and arch supports of this invention are particularly' effective as used with the sandal described herein since a perfeet positioning of the foot is assured whereby the greatest benefit from said metatarsal and arch supports may be drawn.

The means of this invention are simple sturdy and ecient. They have a wide ada tability and adjustability and may .be u for correction of one or all of the common malformations of the foot discussed herein.

What is claimed is 1. A foot corrective sandal comprising a rigid sole member, a counter secured tothe heel portion of said member and having an ankle strap thereon, a plurality of strap guides disposed upon the upper face of the sole member and so positioned and spaced as to embrace between "each pair thereof a toe of the 5 normal human foot, and a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toereceiving loops adapted each to be tightened about a to'e inserted therethrough, the ends of the strap being adapted to be returned overthe toes of a positioned foot and secured together for holding the toes in normal position.

2. A foot corrective sandal comprising an upper and a lower rigid sole member individually covered and suitably secured together, a counter attached at the rear of said members by securing thebottom edge thereof between the sole members, an ankle strap on the counter, a plurality of wire strap guides embedded in and projecting upwardly of the upper sole member and so disposed and spaced as to embrace between each pair thereof an individual toe of the normal human foot, and a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops adapted each to be tightened about a toe inserted therethrough, the ends of the strap being adapted to be returned over the toes of a positioned foot and secured together for holding the toes in normal position.

3. A 'foot' corrective sandal'comprising a rigid sole member, a counter at the rear of the sole member and having an ankle strap thereon, a plurality of strap guides positioned upon the upper face of the sole member and so disposed and spaced as to embrace between each pair thereof an individual ltoe of the normal human foot, a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops adapted each to be tightened about a toe inserted therethrough, the end portions of the strap being adapted to be returned over the toes of a positioned foot `for holding the toes in normal position, and a bunion corrective strap secured to the sole member and adapted to extend over the foot, said corrective strap comprising a perforate pad portion for embracing the affected part and adapted to Cooperate with the great toe loop of said strap for=effecting straightening and correction of said part.

4. A foot corrective sandal comprising a rigid sole member, a counter at the rear of the sole member and having an ankle strap thereon, a plurality of strap guides positioned upon the uppervface of the sole member and so disposed and spaced as to embrace between each pair thereof an individual toe of the normal human foot, a strap for'passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops adapted each to be tight-l ened about a toe inserted therethrough, the end portions of the strap being adapted to be returned over the toes of a positioned foot for holding the toes in normal position, a

bunion corrective strap secured to the sole i member and adapted to extend over the foot, said corrective strap comprising a perforate pad portion for embracing the'aifected part and adapted to cooperate with the great toe loop of said strap for eHecting straightening and correction of said part, and varch and metatarsal pads adapted to assist in correo-y tion of the foot and having means on the bottom face thereof for selectively positioning the pads upon the sole member as rerigid plateland so disposed as to embrace between each pair thereof atoe of-the normal human foot, and a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops adapted each to be tightened about a toeinserted therethrough, the end portions of the strap being adapted to be returned over the toes of a 'positioned foot and secured together for holding the toes in normal position.

6. A foot corrective sandal comprising a sole member, a rigid plate attached upon and covering the upper face of the sole member, a counter secured to the sole member and having an ankle strap thereon, a plurality of strap guides struck upwardly from the rigid *plate and so disposed as to embrace between each pair thereof a toe of the normal human foot, said plate being formed to provide upwardly-rising. portions serving as arch and metatarsal supports, and a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops adapted each to be tightened about a toe inserted therethrough, the end portions of the strap being adapted to be returned over the toes of a positioned foot and secured together for holding the toes in normal position.

7. A foot corrective sandal comprising a rigid sole member, means at the rear of the sole member for engaging the rear portion of a foot, a plurality of strap guides disposed upon the upper face of the solemember and so positioned and spaced as to embrace between each pair thereof a toe of the normal tember, 1931. l

foot, a strap for passing loosely through said strap guides to form toe-receiving loops RAYMOND R. `RIEHLE. J B. PFALLER. 

